The weekend before school starts can be a swirl of anticipation, a scramble for supplies, and, for many families, a financial gut-check. This Sunday afternoon, a new nonprofit in Everett is trying to soften that moment with something concrete: a free haircut, a backpack full of the basics, and a bit of community to go with it.
The event goes by the name Fresh Fade, Fresh Grade, and the people organizing it call it Community Cuts for Kids. From noon until 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 30, families are invited to Tangles & Locs at 7425 Hardeson Road in Everett, where children can receive a complimentary haircut, a haul of school supplies and giveaways, and a meal — all on a first-come, first-served basis. The Herald's Will Geschke first reported the giveaway last week, noting that the Asc3nd Collective, a newly formed nonprofit, would offer the services on a first-come, first-serve basis ahead of the new school year.
The premise is simple, but the team behind it insists it rests on something deeper than a few pencils and a trim. Fresh Fade, Fresh Grade is a free back-to-school community event designed to help students start the school year with confidence, the organization writes on its website. Through free haircuts, school supplies, and community support, we're bringing families together to ensure every child feels prepared, empowered, and ready to succeed.
The Asc3nd Collective is brand new in every sense. Its website, asc3nd.org, registered its domain in late July of 2026 and launched publicly on August 6 of the same year — weeks before this back-to-school gathering.
Elisha Minnifield, a regional manager at Avenue5 Residential with more than two decades of professional experience, publicized the event in a LinkedIn post this month, framing the effort in plain language: "The Asc3nd Collective is proud to host Community Cuts for Kids, a free back-to-school event designed to help students walk into the new school year feeling confident, prepared, and supported." She listed the day's offerings — free haircuts, school supplies and giveaways, and food, fun and community — and described the event as possible through the generosity of volunteers, donors, local businesses, and community partners who believe every child deserves to start the school year with confidence.
The event will be held at Tangles & Locs, a salon at 7425 Hardeson Road in Everett.
The event's other half is a school-supply drive. From July 15 through August 15, the collective collected new supplies, noting that "Every backpack, notebook, and pencil can make a difference." The group adds that every donation directly supports children and families in the community.
Families should know a few practical details before heading over. The collective encourages people to RSVP through asc3nd.org, which helps them prepare for the event. An RSVP does not reserve a haircut, school supplies, or a place in line; services and supplies are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis while capacity and supplies last. Organizers urge families to arrive early.
The hope is that a child who walks out of Tangles & Locs with a fresh fade and a filled backpack will feel a little more ready for the first day of school — and a little less alone for it.
For parents in Everett and the surrounding area, the event runs Sunday, August 30, from noon to 3 p.m. at 7425 Hardeson Road. The advice from organizers is consistent: get there early, let the Collective know you're coming by RSVPing, and come ready to join in the food, fun, and community — a simple way of sending kids back to school with a fresh start.